Convertible sign

ABSTRACT

A convertible sign in which one or a plurality of rotatable prismatic signs is arranged to be rotated through fixed angles by a Maltese cross and gear arrangement and to be locked in a new position by a lock fitted between arms of the Maltese cross. A plurality of signs can be fixed to rotate together. A track-andcarriage mechanism coupled with an eccentric is used in one embodiment to rotate and lock the signs.

United States Patent Weisskopf Nov. 25, 1975 l l CONVERTIBLE SIGN1,077,885 11/1913 La Pearl 40 777 u 7 1,650,059 ll/l927 Bartolomucci40/77] [75] g i x phhppbburg 2,277,323 3/1942 Hjermstad et al. 40 777 ery F E AT [73] Assignee: The Firm of Georg Merkel, 174 J I ZB Z S 7 n1 emg om g i l to Jolgnn Hawner 244,434 3/1912 Germany 40/777 C we many536,329 2/1922 France 40 777 [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 PrimaryExaminer.lohn H. Wolff 21 A l. 4 ,8 I 1 pp NO 34 99 Attorney, Agent, orFirmL1ttlepage, Quamtance,

Murphy & Dobyns [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 31, 1973Germany 1. 2304570 57 ABSTRACT Sept. 26, 1973 Germany 2348374 Aconvernble s1gn 1n wh1ch oneor a plurahty of rotat [52] U.S. Cl. 40/33-40/77.7 able prismatic signs is arranged to be rotated through 51 1m.c1.G0 9F 11/00 fixed angles by a Maltese and gear arrangement 51; Field 01Search 40/774 77.6 77.7 77.8 and to be locked in a new Position by alock fitted 46/77 30 5 tween arms of the Maltese cross. A plurality ofsigns can be fixed to rotate together. A track-and-carriage [56]References Cited mechanism coupled with an eccentric is used in oneUNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1913 Goldstein 40/77.7

embodiment to rotate and lock the signs.

1" Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 4 3,921,321

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,921,321

Fig. 4

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet4of4 3,921,321

CONVERTIBLE SIGN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe invention relates to a convertible sign together with a device forrevolving the sign through a predetermined angle. See Class 40 Subclass77.4 and 77.8 and Class 74 Subclass 4.36.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are several known kinds ofconvertible signs, for example those arrow-signs which periodicallyguide the arriving traffic in two or more different directions. Such asign has to be turned around a horizontal axis through a predeterminedangle. These signs can be in several forms, such as right circularcylinders or prismatic cylinders. The most widespread kind ofconvertible sign, however, consists of a box which includes a window, inwhich a part of a roll shutter or the surface of a prismatic roll (i.e.an equilateral right prismatic cylinder, which is an elongated prismaticelement) is visible. If the sign is to be changed, the axis of theshutter of the prismatic roll is turned.

For smooth functioning of the convertible sign, it is absolutelynecessary that it work exactly and that the revolving movement can berepeated in exactly the same way. One small mistake in the adjustmentmay be compounded by a sequence of repeated operations, and may finallylead to wrong information. This may happen especially in case thechanging of the sign cannot be watched while it is manually released.

An exact adjustment could be performed if a step motor were used.However, if this motor were directly connected, the motor would have tobe powerful, which would mean that it would be heavy and costly. When,however, a motor is used together with a transmission, thus requiringthe motor to make several revolutions until it is adjusted again, thenadditional means are needed in order to slow down and stop the systemvery exactly. For this purpose, a detent together with a cam disk can beused. Since this mechanical device is used to compensate for mistakes inadjustment, it is subject to strong stress. Furthermore, the changing iscarried out very slowly because of the transmission.

In convertible signs, in which the signs are mounted on a prismatic rollwhich is placed in a box, this roll is sealed within the window againstthe housing by a rubber profile. Since the edges of the roll, whilebeing turned, do not move in a straight line but in a circular one, thisseal quickly wears out when the signs are changed, i.e. when the roll isturned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a mechanismwhich guarantees exact adjustment of the sign together with smoothstopping, even when the motor is coming to a halt. The mechanism has ahigh sign changing speed. The invention provides a convertible roll signwhich can be changed very smoothly and in which the seal is not subjectto major wear out.

A Maltese cross is used in obtaining an exact, turning angle. TheMaltese cross additionally contains a gear transmission for obtainingthe desired angle. Though Maltese crosses are well known in severaltechnical fields, these crosses have not yet been used for changingprismatic signs, although these signs have already existed for decades.These Maltese crosses are not only built like crosses, which means theyhave four beams, but are also built with three, five or more beams.These Maltese crosses, especially those with more than four beams, arenot stable enough for many purposes unless stabilizing structure isadded. If a Maltese cross is used for a convertible sign, there is thedisadvantage that for each sign requiring a different turning angle,different Maltese crosses must be produced and kept in stock. In using agear transmission, this disadvantage can be overcome. However, a geartransmission is not necessary, especially if a fixed type of sign allowsstandardization.

In order to save the seal profile on the window'of the box, the roll ismounted on a carriage and a device, is installed for a periodic returnmovement of the carriage, which works together with the device for thestepwise turning of the roll. This device for the periodic returnmovement of the carriage contains an eccentric which is in an abuttingrelationship to the housing of the convertible sign.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of aconvertible sign together with a Maltese cross.

FIG. 2 is a view of a convertible sign which consist of severaltriangular rolls together with a Maltese cross.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a roll of a convertible sign together with thecarriage.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the roll shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3, with the front side wall of the carriageremoved.

FIG. 6 is a view of the roll according to FIG. 5 at th moment when thesign is changed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawings shows afirst embodiment of the invention. A gear 4 is mounted on the axle oraxis of the Maltese cross 1 outside the plane of a lock 2 and a driver3. Gear 4 meshes together with gear 5 which is disposed on the axle of aturning arrow 6, thereby forming a connection means with a transmissionratio is 1:2 for transmitting torque from gear 4 to gear 5. Thus, if theMaltese cross is turned by the arrow will be turned by 45.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a convertible sign which consists oftriangular rolls 6a-6e which are connected to a guiding pole 8 by leversor radial arms 7a to 7e, thereby interconnecting the radial arms tocompel the signs to turn in unison. On the front side of one of thetriangular rolls (roll 6c in the drawings) is mounted gear 5, which iscoaxially disposed with the axle on which the lever 7c is mounted.Between the gears 4 and 5, the preferred transmission ratio is 4:3.

If a four-sided roll is used together with the fourbeam Maltese crossthere will be a transmission ratio of 1:1. In this case the geartransmission may be omitted and the Maltese cross may be mounteddirectly to the axle of the sign.

Such an embodiment is shown together with the foursided roll in FIGS. 3to 6. In a housing 9, a carriage 11 is mounted on a track 10. Thehousing consists of a frame 12 together with sidewalls 13 and aconnection rod 14. Track 10 has a U-shaped cross section and carrieswheels 15 of carriage 11. In frame 12 is mounted an axle 16 whichcarries the prismatic roll 6.

. On axle 16 is further mounted a wing (i.e., yoke) 17, the other end ofwhich is connected to a slide 18, which is mounted on track 10. Aneccentric or eccentric cam 19 meshes with a longitudinal opening in thewing 17. The eccentric 19 is mounted on an axle 20, on which the driver3, the lock 2 for the Maltese cross and a chain pulley 21 are alsomounted. Chain pulley 21 is connected by a chain 22 to a motor 23, whichmay be an electric motor or other motive power means. The motor 23 ismounted on the back of the carriage 1 1. On the front side of roll 6 ismounted a Maltese cross which works together with the driver 3. On thefront of the housing there is, relating to the sign 24 of roll 1, anopening 25, which shows a seal profile 26.

On both ends of the roll 6 there are mounted mechanisms as previouslydescribed, which are built up ina mirror relationship to each other.Both mechanisms are driven by a chain 22 from the common motor 23.

If the sign of roll 6 is set in its normal position, then it ispositioned within the'opening 25 of the housing 9 and is sealed on itsedges by seal 26. The roll 6 islocked in its position by the lock 2(FIG. 1f the sign is to be changed the motor 23 is switched on. Itdrives the chain 22 and the pulley 21 together with the connected driver3 and the eccentric 19. The wing 17 is moved by the turning of theeccentric 19. Since the wing 17 is firmly connected with the slide 18',which by itself is firmly connected to track and to housing 9, the axle16 together with carriage l1 and roll 6 is pressed in the direction ofthe central axle of the housing 9. As soon as the eccentric 19 anddriver 3 have been turned by 135, driver 3 enters the corresponding slitof the Maltese cross 1 and starts to turn roll 6. The turning movementis completed after afurther .90., Subsequently the roll is locked by thelock 2 in its position and the carriage is pushed again by eccentric 19towards opening 25. If the eccentric has been turned by 180, one wholeoperation of the movement of carriage v11 has been completed. r

The result is an operation in which roll 6 has been retracted fromopening 25, turned round and, pushed back again. Only one quarter of thetotal time required is spent in turning roll 6, whereby the roll isaccelerated from a standstill and subsequently slows down againaccording to a sine-shaped line, whereby a'very smooth turning movementis obtained. i

It is obvious that the embodiment shown for the foursided roll can alsobe used for a roll with a different prismatic form when a geartransmission is added. And, too, there is the possibility of mountingseveral rolls on one carriage. Thus there are forms built up whichrepresent combinations of the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 3 to 6 andthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and- /or FIG. 2.

I claim:

1.; A convertible sign system comprising:

A. an elongated prismatic element (6) comprising a plurality of flatfaces adapted to carry indicia thereon, the prismatic element having alongitudinal axle (16) about which the prismatic element may be rotated,

B. a Maltese cross (1) fixedly mounted on said longitudinal axle,whereby the prismatic element rotates when the Maltese cross rotates andremains fixed when the Maltese cross does not rotate,

C. a housing (9) comprising an opening (25) for display through saidopening of a selected one of the plurality of faces,

D. a track means (10) mounted in the housing,

E. a carriage l 1) situated on and slideable along the track means,

F. motive power means (23),

G. driver means (3) powered by the motive power means (23) for rotatingthe Maltese cross, and therefore rotating the prismatic element, aboutthe longitudinal axle, I

H. a yoke element (17) comprising two ends and a central portion havinga longitudinal opening therein,

I. means for pivotally mounting one end of the yoke element (17 on saidlongitudinalaxle- (16),

J. a slide element (18) affixed to the other end of the yoke element(17), the slide element being slidably mounted on the track means (10),and

K. an eccentric (19) powered by'the motive power means (23) andconnected to be operated simultaneously with the driver means (3), theeccentric being fitted into the longitudinal opening in the centralportion of the yoke element (17), whereby, when the motive power meansis operated to cause the driver means to engage the Maltese cross andthereby to rotate the prismatic element to convert the sign system bydisplaying a new face of the prismatic element, the eccentricsimultaneously engages the longitudinal opening of the yoke,thereby'causing the yoke to pull the carriage and the prismatic elementback along the track means from the housing opening.

1. A convertible sign system comprising: A. an elongated prismaticelement (6) comprising a plurality of flat faces adapted to carryindicia thereon, the prismatic element having a longitudinal axle (16)about which the prismatic element may be rotated, B. a Maltese cross (1)fixedly mounted on said longitudinal axle, whereby the prismatic elementrotates when the Maltese cross rotates and remains fixed when theMaltese cross does not rotate, C. a housing (9) comprising an opening(25) for display through said opening of a selected one of the pluralityof faces, D. a track means (10) mounted in the housing, E. a carriage(11) situated on and slideable along the track means, F. motive powermeans (23), G. driver means (3) powered by the motive power means (23)for rotating the Maltese cross, and therefore rotating the prismaticelement, about the longitudinal axle, H. a yoke element (17) comprisingtwo ends and a central portion having a longitudinal opening therein, I.means for pivotally mounting one end of the yoke element (17) on saidlongitudinal axle (16), J. a slide element (18) affixed to the other endof the yoke element (17), the slide element being slidably mounted onthe track means (10), and K. an eccentric (19) powered by the motivepower means (23) and connected to be Operated simultaneously with thedriver means (3), the eccentric being fitted into the longitudinalopening in the central portion of the yoke element (17), whereby, whenthe motive power means is operated to cause the driver means to engagethe Maltese cross and thereby to rotate the prismatic element to convertthe sign system by displaying a new face of the prismatic element, theeccentric simultaneously engages the longitudinal opening of the yoke,thereby causing the yoke to pull the carriage and the prismatic elementback along the track means from the housing opening.